There was an article in Sunday's New York Times about the writers strike in the US and how one of the most damaging things to come out of it is that shows like American Gladiators 
and Reality (or 'Un'-reality) TV will take over the airwaves in lieu of The Office, Grey's Anatomy and House.
Hello. McFly???? You're missing the bigger picture. By about a hundred miles.
During the strike, instead of tuning in to sub-standard fare like AG, and other makeshift shows like "When Women Rule the World" (Off Topic: when did they not?) people will leave their screens altogether to never return in the numbers before the strike. Never.
No, they will leave for something called the Internet. And they won't be back.
The internet is, to coin a phrase, at a tipping point. According to The Globe and Mail (Nov. 7)
Web ad sales on their way up
NEW YORK — U.S. spending on Internet advertising will surpass $21-billion this year and double by 2011, as more money moves away from traditional media like television and newspapers, research firm eMarketer forecast on Wednesday
Music. Movies. Reruns. Original Content. Indie Films. Documentaries. Lot's to see and do. What you want. When you want. More ad space is sold on the web than on outdoor and radio. It will surpass TV in about 3 years.
Everything is Digital.
If the networks think this strike is bad, I've got 3 words for you: National Hockey League.
Back in 2005 the NHL and it's players, in their infinite wisdom, decided that a strike was in their best interests. The fans didn't like that. And they never came back. People found other things to do. They filled the void. There are too many options now. The smartest thing Hollywood and the writers could do would be to settle this now. The void is filling.
UPDATE: From Dec. 12 It's starting.
